The “constant tug-of-war” in mental health care in Greece
| Date | 10 September 2018 |
| Pages | 121-130 |
| Published date | 10 September 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-11-2017-0050 |
| Author | Niki Kyriakidou,Sofia Triliva |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health |
The “constant tug-of-war”in mental health
care in Greece
Niki Kyriakidou and Sofia Triliva
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to focus on how mental health professionals involved in the
therapeutic treatment of children in public mental health facilities in Greece experience and talk about the
impact of the socioeconomic crises on the psychotherapeutic process.
Design/methodology/approach –In all, 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted and
phenomenologically informed thematic analysis was used in analysing the data.
Findings –The results coalesced into two all-encompassing thematic structures articulating the following:
first, the socioeconomic crises have permeated society and therapeutic praxis like a torrentialand chronic rain
storm. This has resulted in a deluge in demand for therapeutic services within the public mental health sector;
second, mental health professionals describe their positioning and work as “a constant tug-of-war”where
they are inundated and often overwhelmed with work, find themselves identifying with service users and
taking on several roles simultaneously, and being challenged to find solutions often in dire and complex
situations. They describe how creativity and flexibility are in demand in their day-to-day interactions and if they
are to intervene in place of a health and welfare system that is faltering. Doing therapeutic work under such
circumstances appears to be both emotionally onerous and stimulating with regard to conceptualising new
ways of intervening in such complex psychosocial situations.
Research limitations/implications –The study is limited in that only mental health professionalspresented
their experiences and service users were not included. The findings do highlight how severe austerity policies
impact mental health services and peoples’lives.
Practical implications –The study has implications for policy regarding the provision and organisation of
mental health services in contexts where crises and economic turmoil prevail.
Social implications –The resultsassociate severe austerity withmajor changes in family and communitylife.
Originality/value –The paper provides insights and implications on how mental health services are
impacted by socioeconomic conditions.
Keywords Greece, Mental health professionals, Mental health services, Socioeconomic crisis
Paper type Research paper
Background
The debt crisis that has enveloped Greece in the past seven years has evoked an economic,
social and political imbroglio. The multitudes of crises have engendered painful consequences
in people’s lives. Unemployment, as well as draconian reductions in income and welfare
benefits, has resul ted in substantial d eclines in peoples’well-being and h as eviscerated
the middle class, le ading a large sector of t he population into pov erty (Charonis et al., 2017).
The downward spiral of the economy and the absence of development mechanisms have
exacerbated the macro-economic indexes of the country and have caused unemployment to
spiral. Moreover, household disposable income has declined to such levels that “living with
dignity”is in peril for a large portion of the population (National School of Public Health, 2012).
These consequences have taken a toll mainly on the vulnerable part of the population
(the elderly, chil dren, teenagers, imm igrants, the unemplo yed, low-income em ployees as
well as people with physical and mental health issues and disabilities). These conditions have
brought on political, social and economic decline and ethical and psychological discomfort
(Triliva et al., 2013).
Received 3 November 2017
Revised 4 March 2018
Accepted 24 April 2018
Niki Kyriakidou is Psychologist
at the Drama Community
Center, Drama, Greece.
Sofia Triliva is Professor at the
Department of Psychology,
University of Crete,
Rethymnon, Greece.
DOI 10.1108/MHRJ-11-2017-0050 VOL. 23 NO. 3 2018, pp. 121-130, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1361-9322
j
MENTALHEALTH REVIEW JOURNAL
j
PAG E 12 1
To continue reading
Request your trial